HBO Max is leading this year’s Emmy races in both drama and comedy for the first time since 2017, driven by “The Pitt” and “Hacks”. The position gives the platform a rare chance to win the top prizes in both genres, and possibly add a limited-series victory with “DTF St. Louis”, but historical results suggest nomination strength is far from a guarantee.

“The Pitt” has 25 nominations, the most of any programme, while “Hacks” has 24 and is the most-nominated comedy in Emmy history; Apple TV’s “Widow’s Bay” follows with 19. In 18 previous years when one network led nominations in both drama and comedy, both leading series won only four times, or 22%; HBO last achieved the double in 2016 with “Game of Thrones” and “Veep”.